Post on 06-Sep-2018
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Catholic Social Teaching: Human Dignity & the Common Good
Spiritual Care Champions
December 9, 2009
John F. Wallenhorst, Ph.D.
Vice President, Mission & Ethics
Bon Secours Health System
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Objectives
Understand some core concepts about Catholic Social Teaching, especially themes related to the dignity of the person and the common good
Understand how Catholic Social Teaching practically affects the delivery of care, including pastoral and spiritual care services, and self-understanding of the Catholic health ministry
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Agenda
Catholic Social Teaching
Personal Voice
Dignity of the Person Scriptural Foundations
Teaching
Common Good Scriptural Foundations
Teaching
Health Care Applications
Discussion
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Catholic Social
Teaching
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Catholic Social Teaching
Subject Persons-in-community
Rights and responsibilities
Dynamic expression of persons and communities as co-creators
Sources Scripture
Teaching
Community Praxis/Action
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Catholic Social Teaching
Purpose 1. Personal
Guidance for reflection, living, participation
2. Ecclesial Active participation in society
Shapes responses for influencing society
3. Social Dialogue with society and all disciplines
Speaks to and influences conversation, public policy and practice
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Catholic Social Teaching
Reflection on Human Experience
Paying Attention – Lonergan
Intentional disposition and practice
Praxis – Aristotle & Freire
Knowledge directed toward action
Dangerous Memory – Metz & Groome
Keeping alive memory in order to act
Know through engagement of
the whole person.
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Catholic Social Teaching
“Church's social doctrine “belongs to the field, not of ideology,
but of theology and particularly of moral theology.” It cannot
be defined according to socio-economic parameters. It is not
an ideological or pragmatic system intended to define and
generate economic, political and social relationships, but is a
category unto itself.
It is “the accurate formulation of the results of a careful reflection
on the complex realities of human existence, in society and
in the international order, in the light of faith and of the
Church's tradition …’”
- Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church
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Personal
Voice
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Voice
Witnessing Voicelessness
Without a voice
Deprived of voice - silenced
Personal Experiences of Voicelessness
As receivers?
At work, at home, in society
As agents?
At work, at home, in society
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Having a Voice
What does it mean not to have a voice?
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Having a Voice
A central theme of Catholic Social Teaching
is about the importance of relationships:
Of living in community
Of full participation
Of having a voice
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Having a Voice
Having a voice is one of the important ways
in which:
We express our dignity as persons
Our dignity is acknowledged and honored by
others
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Dignity of the
Person
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Scriptural Foundations
Psalm 139: 14
“I praise you, so wonderfully you made me;
wonderful are your works…”
Genesis 1: 27
“God created human beings in his own image…”
Imago Dei
Genesis 2:7
God’s breath of life brings to persons to life
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Scriptural Foundations
Imago Dei is constitutive
Not added on, extra or after the fact
The truth of the human person includes being
created in the divine image
What it means to be a human person is precisely to
be created in God’s image
Human person is the clearest
reflection of God.
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Scriptural Foundations
Naturally oriented toward God
The human person as a “capacity for God”’
“…my soul thirsts for the living God…” – Psalm 42
Capax Dei – Augustine’s De Trinitate
Natural hunger, longing, thirst, openness
Only satisfied by final vision of God
“We see now as through a glass darkly; but then face to
face…” – 1 Cor. 13
Aquinas, Cajetan, deLubac, Rahner
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Scriptural Foundations
Naturally drawn toward eternity
Uniquely spiritual and oriented toward eternal life
Uniquely self-aware and self-reflective
In search of meaning and purpose
“… put timelessness in their hearts…” -
Ecclesiastes 3:11
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“We are all pilgrims on the roads of our life. There is always something ahead of us that we have not yet overtaken.
“When we do catch up with something it immediately becomes an injunction to leave it behind us and to go onwards. Every end becomes a beginning.”
- Karl Rahner, Prayers and Meditations and Prayers
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Teaching
Rights and obligations flow directly from human nature Pacem in Terris, 1963
The sublime dignity of the human person Gaudium et Spes, 1965
Persons are willed by God Centesimus Annus, 1991
Clearest reflection of God’s presence in the world The Challenge of Peace, 1983
All enjoy equal dignity Catechism #1934, 1994
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Practical Principles
Shared Statement on Catholic Identity
Catholic Health Association
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Practical Principles
Principles
Every person is a treasure
Every life is a sacred gift
Every person is a unity of body, mind, spirit
Persons are more important than things
The measure of every institution is how it
enhances or diminishes human dignity
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Practical Applications
Applications
Find the hidden treasures
Recognize holiness as embodied
Focus on holistic approaches to the person
Creative critique of materialism
Analysis of all institutions on light of the human
person
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Dignity of the Person
Expression of personal freedom,
creativity and voice
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Attendant rights and responsibilities
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The Common
Good
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Scriptural Foundations
Amos 5:14 “Seek good and not evil that you may live…let justice prevail
at the gate…”
Matthew 10: 8 “Freely you have received, freely give.”
Acts 2:44 “...but they had everything in common…”
1 Cor. 12:7 “…but to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for
the common good.”
1 Peter 4: 8 “Use gifts to serve one another.”
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Scriptural Foundations
Community is for persons
The person is revealed in community
Universal destination of goods
Preferential option of the poor
No one is exempt from participation and
cooperation – both a right and a duty
Political structures are a means, not an end
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Teaching
“The common good embraces the sum total of all those conditions of social life which enable individuals, families, and organizations to achieve complete and effective fulfillment.”
- John XXIII, Mater et Magistra, 1961
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Teaching
The common advantage of all is to be pursued Quadragesimo Anno, 1931
Whole reason for civil authorities is the realization of the common good Pacem in Terris, 1961
Contribute to the common good according to one’s means Gaudium et Spes, 1965
Love of neighbor include broader commitment to the common good Economic Justice for All, 1983
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Teaching
Concerns the life of all
Requires prudence from each, but even more from those who exercise authority
Three essential elements Respect for the person, with inalienable rights
Social well being and development
Peace, i.e. secure, stable, just order
- Catechism, #1906-1909,1994
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Practical Principles
Shared Statement on Catholic Identity
Catholic Health Association
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Practical Principles
Principles
Work to bring about Gospel vision of justice and
peace
Promote wellness for all persons and
communities
Special attention and service to neighbors who
are poor and vulnerable
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Practical Applications
Applications
Participate in neighborhood, community,
national, world-wide activities
Encourage the participation of others
Support just social practices
Speak out against injustices on all levels
Witness by personal example and service
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Health Care
Applications
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Health Care Applications
Mission
Ministry of the Church
Broadly understood and respectful
Catholic identity as an expression of specific commitments
Administration
Ministry leaders
Commitment to organization’s mission on behalf of persons
and communities
More than the veneer of Catholic commitment
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Health Care Applications
Ethics Within context of whole Catholic tradition
Social context and community responsibility
Virtue ethics: existing moral sensitivity and role of developing habits
Focus on organizational ethics Workplace justice
Inclusivity and diversity
Compensation
Participation and association
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Health Care Applications
Pastoral and Spiritual Care Respect for the dignity of persons, including
diverse religious and spiritual expressions
Care for persons in their wholeness: mind, body, spirit
Attend to the communities which form and influence the development of persons
Assist with other caregivers in understanding and respecting these dimensions
Collaborate with local communities
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Pastoral Circle
Personal Experience
What is it?
Social Analysis
What does it mean in this context?
Faith Reflection
What does faith say and call us to?
Planning & Action
What do we do?
Evaluation
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“From the Heart of the Church”
Judith Merkle
A New Vision for Community
Communities of Shared History
Communities of Mutuality
Communities that are pluralistic
Communities that are autonomous
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Discussion
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Questions & Conversation
What are some of the challenges?
Personally
Professionally
Organizationally
How do you address those challenges?
What is the role of Catholic Social Teaching in
the health ministry?
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Thank you.